Means for eradicating insects



MEANS FOR ERADICATING INSECTS Filed Allg 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f//f//ff//f-f/-f/f//ff544/fWHff/ff WV W 2 7 7 Z6 V? 29 /7 I 73 QQ 26 L 20 Wow-fr March 10, 1931 W. B. HILL MEANS FOR ERADICATING INSECTS F'led Aug. 26. 1929 Ours/DE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 1o, 1931 WALTER :1 -HILL, or MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE armaron EaAnIcATING INsEc'rS application naa august ae, 1929. serial m. ystaan.

. This invention relates to means and methods for driving off or exterminating insects. In the present form it is primarily directed toward the extermination of the termite, a

variety of ant which is causing widespread and alarming destruction of timber in buildings and other structures. It has been found incidentally that the treatment giving the best results in the extermination of these insects also kills or drives oil' other insects and j also drives oi mice and rats as well.

The termite has made such alarming inroads and accomplished such wide spread destruction of building timber and has become such a menace, that a great deal of re- A,jsearch has been devoted to its habits and to finding an agency which will destroy it, yand certain solutions and sprays have een found which are temporaril more or less effective. It vhas been foun too, thatthis articular insect works onl in the dark, that 1t derives its food from t e wood which it destroys and that in' addition, it must get moisture for drinking purposes, ordinarily from other sources. v

As a typical instance a termite begins his i attack on the sill timbers where they rest on the foundation wall, and on the inside of the lwall. Under ordinary conditions the wood of the sill is eaten away and at inter- \vals` the termite goes down the wall to the ground seeking moisture. Its entire attack is from the inside outward and ordinarily the outer shell of the timberis not broken through. It is therefore necessar in making the attack on the insect to wor entirely on the inside portions of the timber. Ordinarily if the attack has not progressed too -far it is possible to go in and temporarily 40 check their progress by spraying. Unfortunately such treatment is only temporary and additional treatment should be resorted to frffJm time to time if the building is to be sa e.

Thev objects of the present invention are: (a) To provide a method by which the insect may be effectually cutoff from its moisture supply; y

(b) To provide `means particularly). applicable to the carrying out of such methods;

(c) To provide -means and methods which may be eectually and economically used over an extended period of time; and

(d) To improve the detail of construction of such meansi The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following speciication on referenceto the accompanying drawings,

,in which: l

Fig. 1, is a foundation plan of a house illustrating the principal problems and conditionsv which are met with; and showing my device applied thereto;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4, are enlarged sections of a foundation wall with the timber sill thereon, taken as on the line II of Fig. 1, and showin three steps in the use of the preferred form of my device; Fig. 3, also showina slight modification of the device itself;

ig. 5, is a side elevation of a ortionl of the foundation Wall taken as on t e line V-V of Fig. 1, showing one foundation wall ir section, and one of the spray pipes in p ace;

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary view showing the end of one of the spray pipes with a wrench thereon for rotating the same.

Referring now to the drawingsI in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

7, 8, 9 and 10 are foundation walls of a building, 11 isa central pier. 12 are isolated piers spaced apart -and exterior to the main portion of the building. 13 indicates a basement and 14 interior walls of this basement. 15 is a driveway, indicating usual means of access to the side and rear of the building. 16 is a motor truck. 17 indicates diagrammatically an air compressor and 18 similarly indicates a motor for actuating the same. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 indicate pipes for supplying insecticide, both as a liquid and a spray or Vapor. Each of these pipes lies along the inner surface of a foundation wall slightly above ground level and is horizontally disposed, each pipe projects be ond the wall against which it lies and exten s beyond the outside of the building so that it is readily accessible for attachment of a hose 25 by which it may be connected to the compressor 17, or for filling purposes. The opposite ends of the pipes are closed and are supported either by allowing them to project into the foundation wall transverse to them, or otherwise. Brackets 26 suitably spaced are ordinarily used intermediate the length of the pipe and similar brackets may be used instead of the wall supports should it be so desired. Each of the ipes is provided with a longitudinal row oi) throughout that portion of the length of the pipe which is adjacent to a Wall surface, but not along other portions thereof. That portion 28 for example of the pipe 20 which lies between the inside of the foundation wall and the pier 12 is not perforated, whereas that portion of the same pipe which lies along the side of the pier l2 is perforated. The pipe 24 used along the piers 12, is only perforated where it is adjacent to such piers.

Each of the pipes is a continuous length of straight pi e and is so mounted that it may be rotated?? F or such purpose a permanently attached handle 29 may be used 0r should it be referred a square or hexagonal boss 30 may ide formed 011 or secured to that portion of the pipe extending beyond the wall, and a wrench 31 be used to effect the turning. 32 is a short section of hose and 33 a funnel through which liquid may be introduced into the pipe. 34 are wooden sills on the top of the foundation wall which sills indicate the beginning of the Wooden superstructure of the building. 35 is the ground level.

In using the device each pipe, such as the pipe 19, is turned with the perforations upward. The hose 32 is attached to the pipe and the pipe is filled as by using the funnel 33, a measured quantity of liquid insecticide being poured into the pipe. If the amount so measured exceeds the capacity of the pipe it merely oozes upward through the perforations and runs over and around the pipe to drop on the ground adjacent the footings. I have found however, in a few instances, that the ground was so orous as to almost instantly absorb the liqui so delivered. In such cases a trough 36 may be disposed on the ground below the spray pipe and adjacent the inside of the wall into which the liquid introduced through the pipe can drop. Vhen a. sufficient amount of liquid has been put in, the pi e is rotated as shown in Fig. 3, until the perfbrations are downward, and is allowed to drain. The compressor is then started and the ground adjacent the wall foundation and the bottom of the wall foundation itself is thoroughly sprayed.

The pipes here shown are intended as a permanent installation, and may be put in during construction of new buildings or later installed. It is expected and intended that after installation is made the building founperforations 27, which extend y dations will be treated and thereafter such treatment will be repeated at recurring intervals. If the building be initially infested before treatment begins, such interval will be quite short until control of the situation is effected after which treatment need only be had at extended periods. In new and uninfested houses treatments will be at correspondingly spaced interv ls.

It will be understood hat the means and methods here employed are for the extermination of termites and the prevention of their attacks, at the same time it will be recognized that such treatment will also drive off other insects and even mice and rats.

It will be also noted that, when used for spraying, the perforations may be so turned as to permit spraying not only of the ground and foundation wall, but also may be turned upward and away from the wall to permit spraying of overlying portions of the structure.

Having` claim is:

1. Means for eradicating insects from a building, comprising the combination with a foundation wall thereof, of a pipe disposed along the inner face of the wall, and projecting there beyond, to an accessible position outside the building, said pipe having a longitudinal row of perforations, means for supporting said pipe for rotation, and means for turning said pipe to dispose said perforations in desired position, whereby said pipe may be positioned with said perforations upward to receive a charge of liquid insecticide, and said pipe may be rotated to dischar e saill liquid along the inner surface of sald Tl 2. Means for eradicating insects from a. building, comprising the combination with foundation walls thereof, of pipes horizontally disposed along the inner faces of the walls, a pipe for each of said walls, each of said pipes projecting beyond said walls to an accessible position outside said building and each of said pipes having a longitudinal row of perforations, means for supporting said pipes for rotation and means for turning said pipes, whereby said pipes may be positioned with said perforations upward to receive a charge of liquid insecticide, may be turned to discharge said liquid, and for spraying said foundations.

3. Means for eradicating insects from a building, comprising the combination with the peripheral foundation walls thereof, of pipes horizontally disposed along the inner faces of the walls, a pipe for each of said walls, each of said pipes projecting beyond said walls to an accessible position outside said building and each of said pipes having a longitudinal row of perforations, means for supporting said pipes for rotation and means for turning said pipes, whereby saidv pipes described my invention, what I may be positioned with said perforations u ward to receive a charge of liquid insectici e, may be turned to discharge said liquid and for spraying said foundations.

4. Means for eradicating insects from a building, comprising the combination with the peripheral foundation walls thereof, of pipes horizontall disposed along the inner faces of the wal s, a pi e for each of said Walls, each of said pipes aving its inner end closed and projecting beyond said walls to an accessible posititon outside said building and each of said pipes having a longitudinal row of perforations, co-extensive with the adjacent exposed surface of its wall, means for supporting said pipes for rotation and means for turning said pipes, Whereb said pipes may be positioned with said per orations upward to receive a charge of liquid insecticide may be turned to discharge said liquid an for spraying said foundations. v

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature. WALTER B. HILL. 

